From Problem Set to Design Proposal:

Fostering Discipline-Relevant Writing

(and Writing Instruction) in

Mechanical Engineering

Ben Adams

University of Minnesota – Mechanical Engineering

adam0068@umn.edu

What does Mechanical Engineering writing look like?

We need writing.

It is as much a process as a product.

But students think this is OK

WI isn’t quite enough

2007 Survey: Faculty didn’t consider problem sets

as writing.

Faculty: How many pages of individual student writing, on the average, do

you assign per course?

Response Percent

0 Pages 7%

1-5 Pages 14%

6-10 Pages 35%

11-20 Pages 14%

21-50 Pages 7%

51-100 Pages 7%

100+ Pages 14%“[Prof] Durfee stated that if problem sets

had been included on the survey, 100%

of students and faculty would have

identified them.” –M1 meeting minutes

2007 Survey responses to the importance of writing

in Mechanical Engineering

Sample Sizes

Students (N=70)

Faculty (N=15)

Professionals (N=11)Survey by: Pamela Flash & Leanne Kastman-Breuch

2007 Survey: How are students doing?

2007 Survey: Please describe the most serious

problems you see in student writing.

Students say:- Maintaining coherence or “flow”- Organizing ideas- Using proper word choice

Faculty say:

- Creating an argument

- Organization- Summary writing- Audience Analysis- Grammar, punctuation, spelling, mechanics

2007 Survey: Final Words

Faculty

“I would prefer if somebody else would do the teaching of

writing.”

“Will need support for any of this.”

Students

What resources would be helpful to you?

Specific writing guidelines 57%

Face-to-face tutoring 41%

Support from graduate TAs 39%

Instructor office hours 38%

The Result

Source: ME Student Writing Guide

me.umn.edu/education/undergraduate/writing

Guide Evolution

Jun

e

July

Au

gu

st

Source: ME Student Writing Guide

Do they use it? – Survey 2012

“I glanced at the writing guide…but it seems

unnecessarily long … with sections that aren't

directly pertinent to the lab report (such as the

section called "Why Write Well?").”

“I found the guide for writing formal lab reports

extremely helpful and have had it open while

writing almost all of my lab reports.”

Next Step - Bubble Up Instructional Change